Our Stories

Chronic disease has been a lifestyle for me for more than half of my life. I remember the first day we knew something was wrong. I was swollen in the face. You could barely see my eyes. You could push on my forehead and see an imprint of where the finger was. Our first thought? “Oh my goodness! This is the worst sinus infection EVER!” We made an appointment with my pediatric doctor, and that day changed our lives forever.

After a battery of tests and biopsies, I was diagnosed with Nephrotic Syndrome when I was 12 years old. For about two years I was managed with medications, hope, and lots of prayer and all was pretty well. I held steady at a 4 creatinine, still spilled protein, and I lived a pretty normal life. Then, by the age of 14, I was in complete renal failure. Within a few months I had done both hemo and peritoneal dialysis. At the age of 15, I had my first living kidney transplant from my mother (and boy do I owe her a card every Mother’s Day!). For 15 years, that kidney helped me through life, and I couldn't have had a better one. I went to college, traveled places, got married and had a family. Then in 2009, I had an unexpected transition and had to deal with my kidney disease once again, this time from a different cause – Parvo and toxicity. God moved me out of my comfort zone in North Carolina back to the city where I was born and raised, Milwaukee, WI.  After a few months on dialysis, in March of 2010, I had my second living transplant. This time, I received it from my fabulous younger sister. You can say, I have come full circle and that’s a lot to be thankful for!

Coaching has been a passion of mine since I was a teen – sharing experiences and encouraging other patients like me – while sitting in our dialysis chairs. Back then, I just didn’t know what to call it. In 2004, I had an experience with a coach and knew THIS is why I was put here on this earth. I had a vision, and I set my eyes for that goal. The next year, I founded a nonprofit organization which set out to coach pediatric kidney patients who experienced life just like I did as a teen. I enlisted a couple of experienced coaches to assist me. After making major headway, my 2009 fiasco happened and I found myself on my own. With no board or other colleagues to depend on, I decided to stop running and accept the call God had given me instead of depending on others to do it for me. I pursued my passion and finally got my education and certification in coaching. Shortly after, I wanted to improve my effe